The Siege free porn video

THE SIEGE by Geneva A dedicated young acolyte is given a Gypsy's transformation spell and sent to thwart an Ottoman attack on Vienna. Freedom is lost, but love gained. I looked at the straw in my hand, the shortest of those that we had just pulled, a sickening feeling rising, then engulfing me, my heart pounding. My closest friend and fellow acolyte Kurt, standing beside me, gripped my upper arm. "Courage, Emil, they did tell us that the challenge, whatever it is, will be difficult for the one chosen, but it will be a noble thing that you do. Anyway, they tell us that with good fortune, it will be only temporary. I pray that it will be so for you." I looked round at the other acolytes, my friends who had also endured the spartan quarters, the winter cold, the summer heat, the coarse clothing, the simple food and the endless hours of instruction and vigils with me. There was sympathy, but relief in their faces too, as each in turn took my hand and embraced me. A year or so previously a number of we second year acolytes had been warned that a great, yet dangerous task was ahead for one of us, yet to be chosen. For some reason, supposedly connected with the task ahead, a select group of us was forbidden to cut our hair. We had obeyed, of course, as our duty demanded, and now my black hair curled about my face, a contrast to the cropped heads of the other acolytes and Father Osvald. Father Osvald was the last to take my hand. He even embraced me. He was the master of our religious order. He had been intimately involved with my rigorous training and instruction since I joined the order, and I had come to trust him. This time there was a little sympathy in his eyes, but much more sternness, reminding me of the duty expected of me. "Brother Emil, I wish you luck. The fate of the empire may depend on you. You must have great courage, but you will be in our prayers. Hopefully, your ordeal will not last long. Now that you are chosen, you should prepare yourself overnight by prayer. We will begin the process tomorrow. We can delay no longer. We have just heard that our enemies are on the move." I hesitated. "Please, Father, will you inform any of my relatives that I am undertaking this task?" I asked. I had lived with an aunt after my parents died some years ago. I had no brothers or sisters. "No, this will be better kept as a secret in the order. The power of the book is too great to allow its knowledge, indeed its very existence, to be known. Only the members of our order who were here tonight, and a few at its very head know of it." I wondered what book he meant. Did he mean the Bible? But that was well known. Was it some other religious work, perhaps some ancient writings of the saints? I tried to spend the rest of that night in prayer, but I was really too upset by worry about the great task that was to be placed upon me, whatever it was, to concentrate on my devotions. I had never dreamed, when I entered the order, just over a year ago at age fifteen, that such could happen to me. I felt overwhelmed. My order was semi religious, and fairly new. In fact its existence was neither widely known, nor talked about much. The mission of its founders was to preserve the Holy Roman Empire against the Turks, to spread its influence and power to the East, and, if possible, to weaken the Ottoman empire. We were told the order was something like the Teutonic Knights of old, or perhaps the Knghts Templar, except that we were to accomplish our tasks by persuasion or subterfuge, rather than by military conquest. The order was centred in Vienna and it was thought very likely, in view of the escalating skirmishes across the border, that Vienna itself would soon be the target of invading Turks. Then, if Vienna fell, the Ottoman could invade right to the heart of Europe. We had continually been told about the danger to Christendom. At last morning came, and Father Osvald himself summoned me from the chapel and ushered me into a small room, furnished with only a bed, two chairs, a small chest, a wash basin, a ewer of water and a crucifix on the wall. I was taken aback to see a woman there. I had not seen a woman, other than an occasional glimpse of nuns, since I joined the order. Stranger still, this woman was not in any religious clothes, although her cloak, and what I could see of her skirt were a dark colour. She wore a dark hood over her head so that I could barely see her features. "You are ready, brother Emil?" asked Father Osvald. I swallowed. "Yes, I am prepared." I meant it at that time, but, although the effect and the political intent of my impending task had been outlined to us, I had little idea of the trials that were to be ahead of me. "This is Frau Weissberger. She will administer the spell to you. You will be unconscious, but when you awake the transformation will be almost complete." The master shook his head slowly and sucked air throuh his clenched teeth. "I do not like this at all, but for the greater good of the empire, indeed its preservation, we have little choice but to try any method possible." He shook my hand. "Now I will leave you. I will explain more when you awake." He gave me a stern look. " Brother Emil, you will obey the Frau in all things, just as you obey me." He turned abruptly and left me alone with the woman. I was puzzled. The master had mentioned a spell, being unconscious and a transformation. Surely he meant some great religious experience, a kind of trance to prepare me. I felt privileged to be chosen. The woman threw the hood from her head. She was dark featured, with quite a striking appearance. In fact, had she been younger, I would have called her beautiful. She was about sixty, I suppose. Her face had regular strong features but with many fine lines. Her snow white hair was elaborately gathered about her head. Her body was slim and erect, and I could not but help notice its curves. She must have been a real beauty when she was younger. "Please sit down, Emil," she said. "You know what I am going to do?"she asked. "The master had said I would be rendered unconscious. Then when I awoke changes would be evident." "Then you have not been told what will happen, and that I will use magic for this?" She pulled out a small book from her clothing. "This is a magic book," she said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Now I understood what was meant by a spell. "What ?" I gasped, jumping up. "Magic? A magic spell? There is no such thing, is there?" I added, looking at the expression in her eye. I crossed myself out of shock and fear. Surely this was witchcraft and thus forbidden. What was the order thinking of? But then I remembered my vow of odedience to the order. I bit my lip and sat down again. "Yes, I know. Many think magic is evil. Others think it is a trick, but it is true. I will read a spell from this book to you. It will have the effect of making you into a woman, actually a girl, of your own age, and a beautiful one." This time I shrieked. "What? A Woman!" "Emil! Remember your obedience to the order. Your duty!" I sat down trembling, utterly bewildered. "Yes, you will be transformed," said the frau. "The transformation will start by making you shiver, but you will be unconscious when the main changes take place. I will remove your clothes before you are unconscious in case you hurt yourself and so that I can study the changes. The spell affects all who hear it. That is why Father Osvald had to leave. It also affects women, and makes them more beautiful. I am over sixty, but I have read the spell several times to young men, and I flatter myself that I look much younger. Now, take your clothes off." I licked my lips nervously. "But I am a man. I cannot be seen naked before a woman." She raised her eyes and gave a faint smile. "Before this day is over you will be a woman." I felt myself flush. "Where did the book come from? Has the spell been used before?" "My mother was a Gypsy, but she married an Austrian, and she took a copy of the book with spells in it from her mother. It has been owned by Gypsies for generations. Before that? I do not know. As to your last question, yes, it has been used before, for various reasons. It is said to be from an old language, but perhaps that is just a story, a myth or a fairy tale. It contains other spells too. My family has used these carefully. We do not want the power of the book to be known. That would be dangerous for our safety, very dangerous. This society has little tolerance of witches or magicians. When this is over with you, I think I will move away to where I will not be known." "Then why are you using this for our order?" " Your order is very suspicions of the idea of magic spells, but is now desperate with the Ottoman threat, and willing to use all means to combat them. I agree with your order. If the Ottoman succeed in invading Europe, it would cause too much disruption. I now consider myself an Austrian, and it is in my interest, indeed my duty, to resist the Ottoman. Now, it is time. Loosen your clothing. I have asked you already." As an acolyte of my order I usually wore a long robe, belted at the waist, and I untied the cord. Embarrassed I pulled the robe over my head. "And your underclothes." I pulled the coarse material from my nether regions too, now blushing furiously. I would have resisted, but I had sworn a vow of obedience to the order. I felt the fine hairs on my legs and arms lift with the chill in the air. She examined me, her eyes running up and down my body. "Yes, you are barely mature. You have little body hair. She rubbed my arm and legs. "Yes, and little hair on your limbs too. That is good, but I warn you, You will become like a girl of your own age, and girls usually mature faster than boys. Now, time to get on with our task." She pushed me back onto the low bed and opened the book. It was quite small, with a stained yellow cover that looked like pigskin. I was trembling as I heard her begin to sound out various words.They made no sense. They were not German. "That is a strange sounding language," I said. "Yes, it is nothing like any language I have ever heard." I do not know what I was expecting, but by the time she closed the book and put it back into her clothing nothing had happened. "Did it not work? " I asked, actually hoping that it had failed. "The spell takes several minutes to start ." "What will happen now?" "You will see soon enough. I hear that you acolytes drew lots to see who would take the spell." "Yes, we, I mean all of the acolytes like myself, wanted to serve the order. We saw it as our duty, and we decided to do it by drawing straws. But we were never told about using a spell, or changing to a woman. I lost, or won, depending how you look at things. " She was watching me closely. I was trembling with apprehension and then briefly I felt cold and I shivered. "Yes, for a man to become a woman may be a loss or a gain, depending on many things. You are a brave young man." she said. "I hope the courage will follow you into womanhood. You will need as much courage, if not more. It will be quite an ordeal for you even before you start your mission but I wish you success, and I hope that I will see you again to use the reverse spell to return your man's body to you. Anyway, I see you are starting to shiver. That is the first sign. Eventually you will become unconscious and the changes will start. "When you become as a woman, or at least a girl your own age, your mind will resist the change in your body at first, but eventually you will start to feel and think as a woman, have her emotions, and in time you will be comfortable in your new body. Probably you have had natural attractions to women, but no doubt as an acolyte in a male religious order you resisted them. But as a woman you will start to feel attraction to men. Men too, looking at you will only see a girl, and you will be a beautiful one. Then you will have to learn how to handle your own emotions and the attentions of men. I gather that is the intention of your order, for you to be a trap for one certain man." I gasped. Father Osvald had not outlined that to me either. I made to rise but she held me down, gently but firmly. I felt cold again and this time gave a definite shiver. She was watching me carefully. "Lie back, Emil. It will soon be on you." I shivered again, a series of shakes that made my teeth chatter, and my vision grew dim. Then, with another strong series, so that I was shaking continuously, I felt my eyes growing heavy and I slipped into unconsciousness. Some time later, much later, I felt a cloth wiped over my brow, and the water dripped on my lips. I ached and was utterly tired and I allowed myself to slip back into a deep sleep. Again much later, I awoke, still to an aching body. My eyes were crusted over and my mouth felt as dry as a desert. I groaned slightly, and immediately my face was wiped again and I felt a hand at my back, lifting me slightly and a cup of water at my lips. I could barely control my lips and much dribbled down my chin and neck. I tried to speak, but only managed a faint croak. Yet I remember that my voice sounded higher pitched. All was confused. I was barely awake. I could not understand or remember anything at first, yet there was something important that I had heard about. I forced myself to concentrate and tried to rise, but I was held by someone's arm, the woman's I supposed. I clutched at it and struggled to rise and I again felt the blessed water at my lips, then a cool cloth was washing my face and eyes. I pried them open, dazzled at the sudden light, and saw Frau Weissberger looking at me in concern. "How do you feel?" she asked. "What?" I gasped. Her voice was indistinct. She repeated her question. "I feel terrible, " I croaked. "What has happened?" "It is the result of the spell. It has worked well." "Spell?" Then the memory came flooding back to me. She had said I would become a girl. Then I remembered the events of the previous day, or how long was it I had been unconscious? I tried to rise but I was too weak and she had to help me to sit up. All of my body ached. " I hurt," I groaned. "I feel terrible." " It would be better if you were able to rest, but there is little time. Perhaps it is better for you to face up to your changes. Do you want to see your body or face first?" But by that time I had slid down the sheet covering me. I gasped at the sight. First in my vision were two rounded prominent female breasts and, topping each, brownish pink nipples and areolas. I had seen female breasts before as a boy, inadvertent views of mothers nursing infants. But these breasts were not pendulous and swollen with milk, but smaller, rounded and pert. I lifted my hand to feel one, but was distracted by seeing a slim rounded limb, not sinewy and muscled as my arm had been, but a woman's arm, with a slim hand and long delicate fingers. I flexed my arm and worked my fingers. They ached slightly but all moved well. I touched one of the nipples, for the first time feeling its sensitivity. I probed the breasts. They felt soft, yet firm on my chest. I bent to look at my body. Below the two breasts it narrowed alarmingly to a small waist, but then flared out again to wide hips, with a slightly rounded belly between. I bent to view below, trying not to be distracted by my globular breasts, and saw, at the base of my belly, a patch of hair, and nothing else. I could not bend far enough to see further. "Do you want a mirror?" asked Frau Weisberger. "You can see the changes in your body much easier with it," and without waiting for a reply she handed me one. I held it between my legs in my shaking hands and saw a mound with a vertical slit. I felt faint. "Open your legs," suggested the Frau, and I did so. The slit now made a set of folds with a small opening surrounded by pink puckered lips. I looked at it in awe. I had never seen a woman's private parts before and now I possessed them! "Touch yourself, " she encouraged. "You should get used to your new body." I did so, probing with a finger, wondering at the sensitivity, the new sensations, almost flinching at times. The opening was moist, but I could not bring myself to probe further. "Satisfied?" asked Frau Weissberger. " I don't know." I had no other reply. I was stricken. The enormity of what I had done was beginning to sink into my mind. I burst into tears. " Yes, I know, the changes are astonishing, but you must get used to them and not complain. Here, have a look at your face." I looked at the mirror in horror. I gave a small cry and my hand went to my mouth as I saw my transformed face for the first time. It was red and blotchy, as if I with some terrible disease. It was a girl's face, but puffy, dirty and stained. Yet, as I scrutinized it, I saw regular features, intelligent eyes, high cheekbones, long lashes and full lips. She had my dark hair and brown eyes. The Frau saw my expression. "Yes, as a woman you should be concerned with your appearance, but have no fear, it will improve, even within a day. What you should look at just now are your features. I see a pretty face, your nose, brow and chin in proportion. Yes, and pretty full lips." She took my face in her hands and looked into my eyes. "Pretty eyes too. Soon they will be sparkling. Your lashes are long already. Soon they will be longer still." She stroked my eyebrows and my forehead. "You will be a beauty. She looked down at my chest. " Pretty breasts too, nicely shaped. You were barely into manhood, so you had no chest hair. Even if you had, it would have soon fallen out. Your arms and legs, the hairs are a bit coarse but they will soon fall out. Down there too, you will lose some hair and it will become a woman's pattern." "Now, Emil, how hungry are you?" The mere thought of food made me feel nauseous. I shook my head. "Then you should walk around a bit. Come on!" She helped me to my feet and ignoring my gasps and groans, supported me as she walked me round the room at least a dozen times. "Now, Emil, I think you should try to sleep more. You are still weak. Your aches should have almost gone in a few hours. Here, a glass of wine. That will help you sleep." It was a large glass, and I had drunk nothing but water since I joined the order. Soon I felt sleepy, and allowed myself to settle in the bed. I slept for, I suppose, some hours more. I was naked, but under a blanket. Frau Weissberger was sleeping on a cot in the corner. I threw off the blanket and again explored my new body. I felt at the breasts, they were soft, yet firm at the same time. I touched one of the nipples and felt a slight shiver. I pinched it and experienced a small feeling of pleasure. Both hardened to my touch and the surrounding areolas rose too. I felt to my groin, still surprised at the missing male parts. I felt into the groove, and spread my legs. Underneath were a set of more folds and the moist opening, but further up was an exquisitely sensitive spot. When I touched it a feeling of intense pleasure washed over me. I gasped, but then Frau Weissberger gave a snort and I jerked my hand away. Her eyes flickered then opened. She looked at me with a smile. She had removed her cloak and wore a long dark blue gown. I looked at her neckline. It was low, revealing the tops of her breasts. I was first taken aback at her immodesty, then remembered that I too now had breasts. "How do you feel now?" she asked. I had not thought of it. In fact I had little soreness left. "I feel well," I said. She seemed satisfied. " Good. Now today, we should not delay. We will get you fitted with women's clothes." She pointed to the corner. There was a pile of women's clothing lying on another low table, even some shoes and a stiff brocaded garment, and some finer material. I realised it was a woman's underwear. "I will also give you a few hints about carrying yourself as a woman, how to behave, and so on. Then my job will be done. Your master can explain the rest. Now, my girl, it is time you ate something. You have been through a strain. The spell is not an easy one and you must keep your strength up." She had referred to me as a girl. My face flushed with embarrassment. "Here, there will soon be men around. I will call for food. In the meantime cover yourself with that," and she handed me a voluminous garment. I put it on. It was a long gown, not a woman's clothing particularly, neither was it a man's. She called out the door, and within minutes a servant brought some water, rye bread, wine, cheese and some sliced apples. I was hungrier by this time and managed two large slices of bread with cheese. I also had another cup of the wine. As an acolyte had rarely had anything but water. Frau Weissberger looked at me approvingly. "Yes, you seem to have a good appetite." There was a knock at the door and she answered it. I heard her talking. "That was the good Father Osvald," she said as she came back. "He was concerned about your health. I told him you had undergone the transformation well. He is also impatient, However he will have to wait to see you until we have you dressed. You are now a woman, and thus will be henceforth treated as one, and you will dress as one. "I understand that your disguise is to be that of a relatively wealthy woman, and I got clothes for you of the quality expected. I hope they are the right size. I took measurements while you were still asleep and sent out for some. "Now we should have a name for you, a female name, one suitable for a wealthy woman, but not too exotic. How does ... Klara sound?" I had no thoughts about it. "I suppose so." I did not like the loss of my own name, but I had no choice, and to be addressed in a woman's name was strange. "Then Klara, let us get you dressed." She looked me up and down. "How old are you, sixteen? So I suppose you have never seen a woman dress, or undress for that matter. I had better help you." That was true. I had no sisters and I had been taken into in the order as a boy, when my parents died. She picked up a garment. "Well first, these they are called drawers." She handed me a white loose breeches -like garment, but split in the middle, so that it was almost like two partially joined legs. "These pull up over your legs and tie round the waist." I allowed her to do so. "Why is it split in the middle like that?" "The calls of nature, you might say. With everything else women wear it is inconvenient to untie them at the waist when you need to relieve yourself. Now you need merely spread your legs. Also, at times of the month, you will need to clean yourself regularly to avoid staining your clothes. "Time of month? Stains? What do you mean?" She shook her head in exasperation. "So much to explain," she muttered. "Klara? Women bleed from their private parts once each month, unless they are pregnant." I looked at her in horror. "They actually bleed!" "Do not shake you head like that. It is part of being woman. All women do it, if old enough, and they are not with child or too old. Now, a chemise. This goes over your head. Hold up your arms." It was like a long shirt, although in a finer fabric. I shivered as it slid down my body. I felt my nipples harden at its touch of the fine fabric. She picked up a heavy garment. "This is your corset. It fastens and tightens with laces in the back. You may need help with it. That is why wealthy women and noble ladies have maids." She set it round my waist and started threading laces through the rows of holes at the back of the garment. She worked fast and the laces made a hissing sound as she pulled them. The garment became snug, but all of a sudden, she began to pull the laces tight. I felt its conmpression immediately. "Aahh," I gasped, "what are you doing? It is tight!." "Then take short breaths. You are not used to it, that is all, but it will get better as your body adjusts. If you had been born female in a rich family you would have been used to one from an early age." She ran her fingers up and down the back, slowly tightening the laces. With each sequence the garment contracted, my waist was compressed and my breasts were pushed further up inside the chemise until they protruded from my chest. When I looked down they seemed to fill my vision."That's it, Klara, now you can relax." Relaxation was impossible. I was panting severely, my breasts heaving up and down just under my throat. They seemed to fill the square neckline of the chemise. "Yes, you are very pretty, suitable bait indeed, " she said, looking at my heaving chest. "Just take short breaths. It will be better when you are used to it. Your body will adjust and then it will merely feel snug on you." "Next, your stockings. These are fine silk. You are lucky. Most women cannot afford stockings as fine as these. Hold out your leg and pull up your chemise." She slid stockings up my legs, tying then with a ribbon just above the knee." Now, your petticoats. Stand up." I wondered how much more there was to a woman's dress as she tied even more layers of fine but stiff material around my waist. They rustled when I moved, and I felt my face redden. "Now, your gown. It is fine linen, as becomes a rich lady." This looked luxurious and expensive. I wondered how my order, which emphasised poverty, could have afforded to buy all of the fine clothing. The gown was blue with white lace edging. She pulled it over my head and fastened it at the rear. Like the chemise, it had a low square neckine, but now filled with my heaving breasts. "Doesn't it show too much?" I gasped, speaking as loud as the corset allowed. " No, that is the style for a wealthy woman. Last thing, here are some shoes." These were small and dainty in white leather. They seemed very insubstantial, but fitted my feet, now much smaller since my transformation. "Now let me look at you." She brushed my hair and frowned. "It is rather short for a woman, but it will do. If you were very rich, your hair would be made up, with much ornamentation, but this is not the time." She opened a small laquered box. "You will need a little help with cosmetics too. If you were preparing to go out in the evening, say for a ball or opera, you would be more powdered, but for now, I think only some shadow for your eyes and a little rouge for your cheeks. Your face has just about lost any blotches from the spell. Ugh, these eyebrows are still too large. Hold still!," and using a pair of tweezers she thinned out my eyebrows, ignoring my wincing. "They would thin out by themselves in a day or two when you lost your male hair, but not quite fast enough and anyway, many ladies shape their eyebrows. " She smiled at me. "Also, I cannot stand their present appearance. You are supposed to be a rich lady, not a peasant." "Now some rouge for your cheeks, and a little reddening for your lips." She rubbed on some colouring from her box. "There!" She nodded in approval. How do you like yourself?" She held up a mirror to my face. I gasped. I saw a beautiful girl looking at me. I could barely see any trace of my previous male face. Yet my stomach sank. I was changed so much! Would I ever get my male appearance back after I had accomplished my task, whatever it was? She eyed me critically up and down. "Perhaps I had better stay with you a day or more to help you. However, it is time to let the master see you." She went to the door and called. As soon as Father Osvald stepped in I saw his eyes grow wide in amazement. His usual manner changed and I realized he was in awe of my appearance. Also, as master of an all male order he would have had little contact with women. He would be uncomfortable with a woman, especially a beautiful one. I bowed to him as I had been trained to do, feeling immediately the increased constriction of the corset. "Y- you are E- Emil ?" he whispered. "Remark - remarkable." I wondered why he stumbled over the words. "She was Emil," Frau Weissberger broke in. "Now she is called Klara. As you can see, the spell has worked well. Now Klara," she chided, just a minute ago you bowed to the Father. That is not right for you now. As a woman you must curtsey to a man or a superior, like this." She demonstrated and I copied awkwardly. The Father still had difficulty with his words. "Kla- Klara, when I s- spoke to you and your fellows, I only h-hinted at the nature of your approaching task. I said that it was vital for our empire, and thus for the order. W-what you have to do, is to try to disrupt the Ottoman. You will be inserted into one of these Ottoman cities as a woman who was caught by slave traders." It took me some seconds to understand the implication of his words. I looked at him on horror. I had assumed I would be used as a spy, but to be enslaved? I saw he was uncomfortable with me, he seemed to be avoiding my eyes and his voice was not completely even. "We have a network of agents that can take you into the Ottoman dominions. We know that Ismet Pasha, who is one of the Ottoman Governors and a military commander, has an appetite for women, especially beautiful ones, and we are confident that his agents will see you and purchase you for his harem. That will give you close access to him and we then expect you to kill him. You can then contact our agents-they will let you know who they are- and they will smuggle you back here. Then you will be given the reverse spell to make you back into a man and resume your life here." Had I not been propped up by the corset I would have fallen over in shock. "His harem?" I shrieked, wincing at the shrill woman's voice I had. "You mean for me to be taken to a harem. He will use me." Then I tried an excuse." But I cannot. I was about to take a vow of celibacy in the order, " I said. " If I am sent to a harem that is surely abetting fornication!" Father Osvald was now looking every uncomfortable, but almost immediately he put a stern expression on his face and found words. "I remind you of your duty. To save the empire, we all have to make sacrifices. But I have discussed it with the archbishop, and he gives his consent. If the Pasha makes use of you it will not be a sin of yours. In fact, the woman Klara that you are now is a different person from Emil the acolyte. What she does or experiences will not have any reflection on Emil. "You have been given a very important task. The Pasha is one of those who are most vocal in trying to persuade the Sultan to authorize an invasion of the empire. If he dies then it may delay or stop the Ottoman. You should look on this woman's body as merely a tool or a weapon, one that you wear for your task. Yet your mind will remain pure." At last I got control of myself. "I will do as you say," I said brokenly, my voice thick. "But how am I to kill the Khan?" Father Osvald answered. "We will give you a small vial or needle with some poison. It is very potent and you can easily hide it on your body or, if the opportunity presents itself, you can use any other means." "How soon will he, I mean she, be ready?" Father Osvald asked Frau Weissberger. "To be honest, I think many weeks should be used, but I know you do not have nearly that amount of time. I will use two days, then you can have her." The next two days were spent under the rigorous instruction of Frau Weissberger, while she had me practice putting on various articles of clothing, using cosmetics, walking in what she called a 'ladylike' fashion, sitting properly, and even how to talk and move my hands like a woman, and how to speak in a woman's fashion. She advised me to smile a lot and be deferential to men, especially when I was in the presence of Turks. Close to the end of the second day she took my hands and sat down with me. "Klara, who was Emil," She shook her head. "An actor or actress you will never be, but you must hope that you will get better with practice. The Turks too, are a different culture and may not notice your other deficiences if you act deferential to men. Anyway, you will have to learn their culture. The master says you will start off tomorrow. I wish you well. Hopefully when your task is over I will see you again and I can give you the reverse spell to read. I do not want to read it myself." She gave a faint smile. "There is one thing too that I have not told you. You have a woman's body, completely. That means that from now on you will experience all that a woman can, also feel as a woman does. I have told you that a man could make you pregnant. You have the body of a woman, or at least a girl." My hands were trembling and I felt faint. I was aware I was beginning to cry. Frau Weissberger took me in her arms and stroked my head. Klara?" she asked, " do you know about how man and women lie with each other, how they give each other pleasure, and how they make babies?" "I had heard, " I said faintly. Prior to joining the order, the boys I played with had joked about these things. "The Father said I should view my body as a tool and keep my mind pure." She shook her head. "No Klara, the spell affects the mind too and soon you will start thinking like a girl. Men will be attracted to you, but you to them as well. It will not be immediate, but in three months or so you will start to notice men and even to desire them. I earlier mentioned too that you will experience monthly bleeding. It is a nuisance, but that's what women have to endure. You are sixteen, I believe," and she eyed me critically, "and perhaps a bit thin. But if you had been born female, you would already have monthly bleeding. This will come upon you, I suppose in less than a month. You should be prepared." " How?" I asked. "You will have to use pads to absorb the flow, which should last several days. Women do that, to avoid staining their clothing. I will make sure you have some." This was yet one more thing. I wanted to scream in frustration, but we were interrupted by the master entering. "K- Klara, Frau Weissb-berger tells me you are almost ready, a good thing too. We have made arrangements for you to leave tomorrow at dawn. Now, take this. Guard it well. "He passed me a small package. "This is a poisoned needle. It is in part of a goose quill, and stoppered with wax. When you are ready, open it and scratch or prick your victim. The poison is slow acting, over several hours, so hopefully you may be able to escape after you use it. Hide it in your hair." "If you are going to hide poison," said Frau Weissberger, "your hair is one place, but perhaps the good father is too embarassed to mention another. There is a nice hiding place there, and she pointed to between my legs. " I blushed scarlet. The father turned pale. "Now, Klara, God be with you, " he said. "I will see you in the morning." I had no elaborate send-off, just Father Osvald and Frau Weissberger saw me leave in a cart at the back door to the order's residence, then I was smuggled with two men, dressed as peasants, through the loose frontier into the territory controlled by the Ottoman. Once safely past that, I was handed on to two other men. We travelled mostly by a small cart pulled by a donkey. I remained hidden most of the time, until it was obvious, by the amount of carts on the roads, that we were in a more populated area. Our journey took about a week. During that time I got a little more used to the women's clothing and my new body. The men were very discreet: I suppose they had been well warned by Father Osvald to take good care of me. Whenever I wanted to relieve myself, or wash, they left me well alone. Yet again I was transferred, but this time to just one man. He was called Jaroslav. I did not like the way he looked me up and down, as if appraising me, but I was with him only two days when he told me, close to the second evening, "we are close to the end of the journey now. Just over that ridge is the Pasha's city. You know that I am supposed to deliver you to a slave market?" Horror took me. "No, I have not been told, " I said. "I thought I was to be sold directly to the Pasha's house." "It was thought to be the least suspicious way if you are a female captive that is being sold just like any other. I will disappear after that; it would not do for me to be asked any details about how an Austrian lady came to be in a slave market. You will be put up for sale, but I will let it be known through a contact in the Pasha's household that a beautiful slave, an Austrian captive, is being sold. Your hair is dark but you are fair complexioned and the Pasha has a taste for such women so I expect that you will be purchased for his harem. After that, it is up to you." I shivered with worry. The scheme was much too vague. "What if another person buys me?" "That would be unfortunate, but I suggest that you then poison him so that you will be put up for sale again. But I think you need have little fear. Few dare bid against the Pasha. He is a powerful man in his society. All right, tomorrow then. You have the vial of poison hidden in your hair? God be with you." That next morning I woke from a restless sleep. In fact I had slept little, apprehensive of what the morning would bring. He rummaged in a chest and pulled out a loose women's dress. He threw it to me then had second thoughts. "No, if you are meant to be a captive, it will be more convincing if you are clothed in western fashion. You will be more recognisable as a westerner, and thus more exotic. A Turk might enjoy buying you to humiliate you but, we must be in character. Give me your foot." Without thinking I held it to him and he snapped a chain on it, the other end to a ring bolt in the floor of the cart. "What are you doing?" I screamed. "I am not a slave." "To all intents and purposes you are a slave. Soon you will be, and now I must treat you like one," and he seized my dress, ripping the neckline so that I was even more exposed. "There! Now you look like a captive." I pulled on the chain but it held me fast. Even if I had had second thoughts about the enterprise, there was now no way that I could escape. I sank to the floor in tears. I was so upset that I barely noticed as we entered the city and wound our way through dusty streets filled with vendors and buyers, and colorful bazaars. Many looked at me and pointed and some urchins followed us for a bit, laughing at me. Occasionally I saw files of soldiers on the march, and groups of mounted soldiers, some in quite exotic runiforms. I tried to remember their numbers and regiments, as the master had suggested, but I became too confused by the sheer volume. It was obvious that large military preparations were underway. At last the cart halted before a stone building. Two sword wielding guards stood at the gate. After a few words they opened the gate and the cart entered, carrying me with it. I looked round, trying to keep my fears under control. We were in a small courtyard. At one end was a raised wooden platform and at the other was a garden, with shady trees. Underneath were some women, all robed, some even veiled, but I shrank when I saw that all wore ankle chains. We were noticed by a corpulent man standing in a doorway. He sauntered across to the cart. My companion gestured to me and I stood up. The man asked something and in turn Jaroslav snapped at me, "Strip!" and slapped me on the face. I was bewildered and he raised his arm to strike me again. I burst into tears, but I knew that he would have to be seen as harsh with me. As quickly as the complicated fastenings allowed, I stripped off my dress, petticoats, corset and chemise, even my underwear until I was totally naked. I tried to hide my breasts and my groin with my hands, but at another slap from Jaroslav I put them behind me. I was in tears, but the men ignored them. It was then that I really knew how vulnerable I was, a female slave in the presence of men. I saw the corpulent man's eyes open wide and I felt his scrutiny of my naked body. He licked his lips. Some negotiation took place and I saw coins pass hands, and Jaroslav unlocked my chain. My companion pointed to the ground and I hastily jumped from the cart. I tried to retrieve my clothes but I was dragged away into a door and thrust into a small dark room. I had been sold. I sank to the straw on the floor. My apprehension was at its height. I had been transformed, I had been put into an unfamiliar body. I had been transported from my city and far form any friends. I had been sold as a slave, a female slave, fit for a harem. I was utterly abandoned. I spent that night with three other young women, all as naked as me. I could understand none of them. None certainly spoke German. Later that morning , two men entered carrying chains. They roughly seized me and chained my ankles together, with only about a half pace's breadth of chain. The other women were chained similarly and yet another chain fixed to our wrists to connect us. Later, we were driven outside and made to stand on the wooden platform as groups of men came and went, scrutinizing us from front and rear, pressing our breasts and buttocks, and even checking our teeth. I seemed to attract the most attention. Towards evening a small group of men came in. They wasted no time with the other girls, coming right to me. I heard a sharp exchange, and the slave owner scowled. Then coins passed hands and he turned a key in my shackles and freed me from the chain. In a moment a black voluminous garment was thrown over me, almost covering me, and I was led away by a rope round my neck. I had no strength to resist, and I could see only partially through an eyeslit in the garment. It was a short journey through the busy streets until we entered a square heading to a gleaming white building at the other side. The group of men with me did not hesitate, but strode towards the building. With little hesitation by the two guards at the gates they were allowed in and I was pulled into a small room. The man facing me was a tall African, with a dark gleaming brown face and dark brown eyes. His striped robe was quite elaborate. I peered at him from underneath my garment, then amazingly, I heard him speak in German in a strange soft high pitched voice. " I had been warned that a woman was on her way. Now, I warn you. You are a slave. I know you have a task to do, but remember that you are a slave, you will be treated as a slave and you should behave as one if you want to be successful in your subterfuge. Now let me look at you. Remove your garment." "But I will be naked," I protested. "So?" he said. "The slave trader displayed you naked most of this day and it is common here with the women of the Pasha's harem. Time to time most of the women here go naked in the seraglio, unfortunately." He gave a great sigh. " Anyhow, hurry up and strip. You will obey, or you will be whipped." His threat seemed genuine and I removed the garments as quickly as the complicated fastenings allowed. "Good. You must learn to obey quickly. " "But you are surely not a Turk," I cried. "No, I am called Ahmed, at least this is the name I now use. I was from Africa, south of Egypt, but as a boy I was taken from my village many years ago. Now I am a prisoner of the Turks, a slave in the Khan's household. I serve in the harem." "But I thought men were not allowed in harems." He scowled at me. "Yes that is true. The Turks use eunuchs to guard their harems. So they made sure I fitted the requirements. They removed all that made me a man, unfortunately." I felt horror, pity and embarrasment. It was time to change the subject. " You speak German." "Yes, I know German. I have learned it from some prisoners. I also speak Turkish, of course, and other languages. You do not speak Turkish?" "No," I quavered. He sighed. "Then I will have to help you. I know something about you. I have been contacted by the principals of your order, so I am familiar with your story, but I do not know how an all male order was able to recruit a beautiful woman like yourself, or even get you to volunteer for it. By the way, what is your name, girl?" "I am called Klara. Klara von Weissberger, " I said. I hoped that the Frau would not object at my use of her surname. I thought it better not tell him of the spell. "It was my duty, "I added, "to do all I could to save our empire." "You are very courageous, Klara, but what you are proposing to do is dangerous. Even if you succeed you will be in immense danger if they suspect your involvement in the slightest. If you do not succeed, a life of slavery awaits you. Anyway, you are now in the palace of Ismet Pasha. He is a powerful warlord, and will be able to supply many troops to the Ottoman when they invade the Christian states to the West. You were bought for his harem. He has a strong appetite for women, so I expect he will have you share his bedchamber very soon, perhaps even tonight. Thus you will have close access to him, and at hopefully his most unprotected moments." "If he does not call for you tonight, I will help you as much as I can in the days to come, but as far as Ismet Pasha knows, I am a loyal slave. In the presence of others I will treat you as I would any other woman in his harem. If you are disobedient for any reason, I will have you beaten or whipped. "Now, I expect that he will have you summoned to his bed tonight. You will be bathed and prepared for him. The Turks are more fastidious in their cleanliness than Christians." He sniffed at me. "Yes, you are smelly, but I have seen other western female prisoners, who smelled of farmyards or worse." His voice lowered. " You have the poison with you?" "Yes," I whispered. "I have it hidden in my hair. How did you come to be an agent of my Order?" " So that I might take revenge for my slavery and mutilation on the Ottoman. Now, Klara, A word of warning. When you are bathed, you may be searched again. Take precautions." He clapped his hands and two Arab girls came into the room. By their costumes I saw they were also slaves. They took me me to another room and before I could react, led me into a large porcelain bath set in the tiles of the floor and began to wash me. The soap was scented, a fragrant feminine scent. It was weeks since I had washed, and to tell the truth, as an acolyte in the order we had washed our bodies only infrequently. Before I could react, one plunged my head into the water and on emerging, took a solution from a bottle and began lathering my hair. I knew she would find the poisoned needle hidden there and I pretended to wipe the soap from my eyes and pulled the needle and its protective case from my hair and palmed it. Fortunately none othe girls noticed it and I pushed it into my vagina, terrified in case my squirming released the poison. If it did, I would die in an hour or two. Next chattering to each other and giggling, they thoroughly washed the rest of my body, my breasts, limbs and even along my nether lips. I almost screamed when I saw one with a sharp blade, but she lathered under my arms and shaved me, then even shaved the hair at my groin, so that my body was as bare as a baby's. They lifted me out of the bath and dried me. I was now scented of roses and jasmine. Next they laid me on a small table, and began to massage me, adding more perfumes and rubbing scented oils in my skin so that I was enveloped in a cloud of fragrance. My skin felt soft and supple I was warm and relaxed. As I twisted I saw my body with its still strange shape, move sinuously, I was aware of the weight of my breasts on my chest. While I was still completely naked, one sat me up and with a small palette began to apply colours to my face, a dark brown to rim my eyes, and blues around my upper eyelids, then red to my lips. One of the girls hissed angrily as I squirmed, At last she stood back to look at me and I tried to rise, but she was not done yet. Another colour was applied to my nipples and areolas, then pulling me on my back, she even applied the same colour to my nether lips. Then they set to my fingernails and toenails, painting them in a dark red laqueur. I squirmed again as some aromatic scented oil was applied to my nether lips and my underarms. I screamed when I saw one approach me with a needle, but I was held firm and I felt a sharp jab at my ear, and almost immediately afterwards, in my right. In minutes they had fitted me with dangling earrings, of gold and jewels. I shut my eyes in embarassment, but I sensed that someone else was present, and when I opened them again Ahmed was looking down at me. I closed my legs and held my hands over my breasts, to the annoyance of the women. "Stop that!" Ahmed said. "Please, what are they doing?" "They are preparing you. Turks like their women free of body hair That is why you are shaved. You are washed too. I must say, it is an improvement. " I flushed. I had not had a proper wash for weeks. Ahmed looked me up and down. "And the earrings are very becoming too. Yes, you are much improved by being clean. Also, you will be pleased to know that these two girls think you are beautiful. So do I, unfortunately." He leaned down and, slapping my protesting hand away, pinched my nipple, rolling it between his thumb and forefinger so that I gasped and squirmed. My nipples became rigid. "That is good. I think you will react well to the Pasha, so that he in turn will be distracted by you. Then you can use the needle." In panic I motioned with my eyes to the girls, but he shook his head. "They do not understand German, so we can speak freely. However, they are not done with you yet." Again they took me and combed my hair, oiling it and winding and twisting it over my head, until it was in an elaborate coil, held with silver clips and even set with some colored ribbons and jewels. My two wrists and my ankles were fitted with gold bangles, so that I jangled and tinkled when I moved. At last they were finished. No, not quite. One brought out a gown in a dark fabric and pulled it over my head. The material was a dark red color, but the fabric itself was a fine as gossamer. M pale body and limbs were easily seen behind the material itself. It did not conceal me, rather it just added a slight touch of mystery to my figure. Ahmed took my arm. "You are beautiful indeed, Klara. Good fortune. I will do what I can to protect you. If you are successful I will also give you all the help I can to smuggle you out in the confusion." Then he nodded encouragement to me as another eunuch, also black, took my wrist and led me into another chamber. This one was richly furnished. It was gloomy, and I had scarcely got used to the darkness when I saw a large bed, covered in silk sheet and supplied with many gold tasselled cushions. I stood trembling, wondering what my reaction would be to the Pasha when he entered to his new concubine, but some time passed and I was still alone. Even more, and I was tired standing so I sat down on a padded chair feeling my heart thumping. I was about to check my vagina for the poisoned needle when the eunuch entered again. I jumped up in fright, but he only took my hand and led me to another room. A very worried- looking Ahmed was standing at the back, but in the centre of the room was another man in elaborate rich clothing. By the way the others deferred to him I understood he was the Pasha. This man looked about sixty, His face was swarthy, but his beard, mustache and hair, what I could see of it beneath his turban, were all white. His eyes were brown, set deeply under white eyebrows, exuded an aura of power, not unlike some of the leaders of my order. He motioned to Ahmed, who at a command licked his lips nervously. "You are to be examined." he said. "The Pasha has heard from one of his spies that a female assassin was on her way to kill him. Thus he suspects you. You are to be rigorously searched." I wondered who had betrayed us. Few knew about the plans of the order, and I doubted that anyone in it would have betrayed me. I saw Ahmed's' face desperate. I knew that we were both in grave risk, andhe was pleading with his eyes for me not to betray him when the poison was discovered on me. His hands were pulling at the closure of his robes. The Pasha looked at me and barked out a question but I did not understand his language. "The Pasha wants to know where you are from and how you came here," said Ahmed. I had expected questions, and even in the aftermath of the events that had befallen me I had well rehearsed the answers, that I was from a rich family, minor nobles, in Austria, and that I had been kidnapped and brought into the Ottoman domains to be sold as a slave. Ahmed translated for the Pasha. He laughed, showing even white teeth . "The Pasha welcomes you to the Ottoman empire. He says he will personally give you a tour of it." I knew what he had in mind and my fear must have shown, but he went on to ask other questions, this time just to Ahmed. Then the Pasha pointed at me and made another demand. "You are to strip," Ahmed said."Completely. He has been questioning me about how you were bought for the harem." I did so, terrified at what would come but then an older female servant or slave sat me down forcibly and signalled for two slave girls to search my hair, using a fine comb. They did it thoroughly. Twice they went over it, but finally one shook his head to the Pasha, indicating that they had found nothing. At another command they pushed me on my back on a low table and began to search all of my body, looking in my mouth, behind and in my ears and at my fingers and toes. I began to breathe easier. I was almost safe. Then to my horror, one spushed apart my legs and began to probe inside my rectum, and then my vagina. I began to squirm at the indignity, but a sharp word came form Ahmed. "You are being told to keep still." I prepared myself for the discovery, scarcely able to breathe. i wonder what punishment they would give me, but all of a sudden I was released and allowed to sit up. I was amazed when I saw them shake their heads. Ahmed looked pale despite his dark skin, and almost fainting in relief. They had found nothing! But then I began to wonder. Somewhere between my bath and the search I must have lost the needle. It had slipped out of my vagina unnoticed. I was safe, but now I was totally unarmed. Worse, the poisoned needle was lying somewhere, awaiting discovery. The Pasha smiled and said a few words to me. Ahmed translated. "The Pasha regrets the intrusion on your body, but he had heard of an Austrian plot to kill him by a spy and he had to take precautions. It seems you are not the one." He turned his face so that only I could see it and I saw a brief look of puzzlement on his face. He too was wondering where the needle had gone. I let a look of puzzlement pass over my own face and gave a faint shrug. There was a sudden interruption. A servant approached the pasha and spoke briefly. At the news the Pasha's face lit up in pleasure and he almost bounded out of the door. I was left only with Ahmed and the serving girls. "Where is it? he asked. "What have you done with the needle?" "I don't know, I said. "I had it when I went into the chamber, but it must have fallen out. But who would have warned the Pasha?" "The Ottoman have their own spies, just as the Austrians do, but it means that the men that sent you have not been careful. You must now look for the needle and hide it well until you can use it. Anyway Klara," Ahmed said, "a small reprieve. You will be taken back to the bed chamber and there you must await the Pasha. He is eager to bed you, but he has some unexpected business. Some new cannon have arrived and being a military commander, he is keen to test them. In the meantime, would you like some food?" "Yes, it is some time since I have eaten," Ahmed spoke a command to one of the female servants and in a moment she brought me a plate with some stewed meat, rice and some fruit. I ate them ravenously. Ahmed watched me carefully until I was finished then at his command, another eunuch took me by the arm and led me back into the adjoining chamber and laid me on the bed. It was then I spied the needle, still in its protective case, lying on the padded chair that I had been sitting on. It had fallen out when I had risen so suddenly before. Ah, it would be in my grasp. Even better, I had been searched and would have better chance of proclaiming my innocence when the Pasha died. Unfortunately the eunuch then snapped a fine golden chain at my throat, its other end connected to a bolt on the bed. I screamed and jerked at the chain but he ignored me. He left me. As soon as he had left I tried to get to the needle. Its presence was painfully noticeable to me, but the chain was too short for my hands to reach. I jerked at the chain again but it was no use. I was too well tethered to the bed. I could not get free. As a last resort I stretched out my legs, and just reached the needle with my toe. I intended to curl my toes around it and pull it to me, but it slipped away and rolled into the chair between the seat and the padded back, out of my reach. I felt like screaming in frustration, and fear. Soon the Pasha would enter and expect.... I shuddered and cried at my helplessness. It was then I was aware of muffled explosions and ocasionally faint shouts. This carried on for about an hour, then stopped. I supposed that this was the testing of the new guns. Now that they were stopped the Pasha would soon come to join me. Yet, as I waited and waited, nothing happened. The time only registered with me slightly, I was so sick with worry. Eventually I realised I must have been waiting for hours. I was getting hungry again and needed to relieve myself. Desperately I looked round. Finally, under the bed I saw a small pot, which my neck tether only just allowed me to reach. I was about bursting so I sat on it. I hoped I would not be punished, but it was better than soiling the fabric of the bed or the carpets. I felt at my ears. They were sore where they had been pierced. The earrings felt heavy and every movement of my head irritated my ear lobes. I felt at one, but I could not undo it. I looked in a small mirror at the side of the bed and examined them but could see no way to unclasp them. I was barely finished when Ahmed burst into the room and unlocked the chain from my neck. "Klara, come with me, but first, where is the needle?" "Here," I said, searching in the crack of the chair. "It must have slipped out of me earlier, before they searched me." He rolled his eyes in relief. "Our good fortune that it did," he said. "Let me take it away. I will hide it away until later. The Pasha will not be with you tonight." "What has happened?" "I am not sure, but it appears that he has been suddenly taken seriously ill or something. I have not been told much but something happened when he was outside at the new cannon. He will not see you tonight. In the meantime I have been instructed to have you taken to the women's quarters." I almost collapsed with relief. I was safe for one more night. Ahmed led me out of the bedchamber and handed me to the other eunuch who took me through a corridor into another room. There were four other women there on beds in alcoves. Some looked at me curiously, others with what I can only describe as mild hostility. I realised that this was the seraglio. One approached me and spoke, but I had no idea what she was saying. She looked at me in exasperation, but she took me by the hand and led me to a vacant bed in an alcove. She clapped her hands and in moments it seemed, before me there was water and a plate with some slices of meat, a flat piece of bread and fruit. I ate them ravenously and sank on the sheets of the bed. Within minutes I was fast asleep. I awoke to the sound of screaming and howling. The other women were wailing and tear stained. Another of the eunuchs was standing with them too, with tears in his eyes. They jabbered to me, but I had absolutely no idea what had happened. I gathered it was some great tragedy. Some spoke to me but I could not understand them. At last Ahmed entered and led me out to a quiet area. "Klara," he whispered, "your task is now unnecessary. Ishmet Pasha was killed last night in a bizarre accident. There was an explosion with one of the new guns as he was inspecting it. He was seriously wounded and died in the night. This is a great blow to this house, but it will help you and no doubt Austria in the coming war. I will arrange to get you free again. It may take some weeks, so be patient." A great load was lifted off my mind. I felt like shouting for joy, but I pretended grief. It would have been improper, if not dangerous, for me to show joy in this house of mourning. I could not believe my luck. I had not had to share the Pasha's bed and submit to him. Yet I was surprised at the tears of the household, especially the women and the eunuch to the news. They were all slaves or concubines, I supposed. Why would they not be pleased? Were they now in danger? Or perhaps had they liked their master? Ahmed was pretending grief as well. Thus, the aim of the order was now accomplished. Father Osvald would rejoice. The Pasha was dead, although no thanks to me, and surely the Ottoman invasion plan would have suffered a setback at least. The order need not have resorted to magic after all. I started to wonder how long it would be until I was able to return to Vienna, and to the shelter of the order. My main problem was boredom. I was not able to speak with the other women and I was not permtted outside the seraglio. But day followed day and nothing happened. I grew more and more despairing about escaping. I hoped Ahmed had not lied to me. My earrings had given me little problem after the first week and I had become used to them I hoped that Father Osvald would not be angry with me for having them. I wonderd if the holes in my earlobes would disappear when I used the reverse spell. On morning, two weeks or so after my arrival, I awoke feeling uncomfortable and irritable and that evening, as I had been sitting I suddenly felt my clothing damp. I examined it and screamed. It was blood! I was having a bleeding spell as Frau Weissberger had warned me. A servant in the seraglio must have seem it, but was puzzled by my distress. Rapidly I tried to pull myself together. Panic would not help me. I was soon bathed and given a pad to wear. I was heartily glad when several days later it stopped. In my boredom I tried to think back to my days in the order and the the companionship of my fellow acolytes. Yet, when I thought of the order, I remembered also the cold, the damp, the poor food, and the monotony of the religious exercises. Here in the Pasha's house the women's quarters were dry, airy and light. I was bathed each day, and I was growing to like the comfort and being clean and scented. Even the food was much better. I had rarely tasted fruit before, except apples. I was especially relieved that cabbage no longer figured prominently in the diet. No, I put the thoughts of this comfortable life from my head. It was my duty to return and help in any way I could in the order and its work. Yet another month passed and I had to endure yet another bleeding spell. Finally, a week or two later Ahmed took me aside. "Klara, tomorrow I will wake you early and slip you out of the house. Be ready. I will get you some clothes more suitable for the journey. I have finally contacted someone who will take you back across the frontier." "What about the guard?" I asked. There was a guard every hour of the day at the entrance to the women's quarters. " I will give a sleeping draft to him and the other women in the seraglio. Also the house and its management are still in too much turmoil with the Pasha's death. No one has taken over the house yet. I do not know what will happen eventually. The Pasha has two sons, but one is an administrator in Syria and the other is with a force in the north, guarding against t